Symbol: Paints
Tom bought his wife Rachel a different color of oil paint for each month of her pregnancy. When she realized that she was not going to survive after giving birth, she told Tom he would have to buy the blue paint for himself to represent the birth of a baby boy. To Tom, the pot of blue paint symbolizes the death of his wife and child. When Willie arrives, Tom for the first time in 40 years takes out the old paints from storage. Just holding them evokes memories of Rachel. Because of this, he is very reluctant to go into the art shop and buy paints for Willie. But it is Willie's love for painting that symbolizes a major renewal for Tom, as Willie helps to bring the color back to Tom's life.
Symbol: The Belt
Willie's mother beats him with a heavy leather belt and even sends it to Tom with Willie's meager possessions. From that point, the belt is never used again. The belt symbolizes the brutal physical punishment Willie has left behind and also the difference between Mrs. Beech and Tom's approach to raising children. The belt is also a symbol that communicates to Tom how badly Willie has been treated, and thus helps him to understand why the boy is so timid and sickly. Tom firmly declares that he will not be using the belt in disciplining Willie, which reflects his humane and loving nature beneath his brusque demeanor.
Motif: Blackout Curtains
The town warden is always fastidious about the whole village having their blackout curtains up to make sure that the village remains completely dark. This constant motif of the blackouts is meant to illustrate the time of darkness and uncertainty amidst war. No one can ever be sure when there will be a raid. The curtains also speak to how the community must band together, making a sacrifice for the benefit of the collective. At first, Tom Oakley is reluctant to put up his blackouts, symbolizing his isolation from the rest of the community.
Motif: The Bible
The Bible plays an important role in Willie's life, as his mother uses her interpretation of Biblical doctrine to control Willie's every move. Thus, Willie associates the stories of the Bible as something didactic, that must be learned by rote. But Mr. Tom's style is more to relay the Bible through the mode of storytelling. When Willie's mother finds out that her son has not been memorizing scripture, she is furious. In Little Weirwold, Willie's perspective on the church changes as he sees religion as more of a unifying force for the community, where people even laugh and sing during sermons. Through hearing the stories of Genesis and Exodus through Tom's voice, Willie can learn to relate to the Bible as profound stories about human nature rather than as a rigid rulebook that casts people into eternal damnation.
Symbol: The Ocean
When Will, Tom, and Zach take a trip to the seaside during summer holiday, Will gets to encounter the ocean for the first time. Will had believed the ocean might "terrify and engulf him" but finds that once in front of the water he is actually "surprisingly calm" (58). They spend two weeks there and Will really grows to love the sea, even venturing into the water and learning how to swim. Willie has recently been rescued from his mother and has been recovering from the trauma for the past few weeks. Thus, the ocean represents a space of revitalization and healing for Will, who can begin to face his fears and appreciate the beauty of life again.
